Loom and Doom

Antique Shop Mysteries #6

by Susan Sleeman

Murder throws an antiques sale into mayhem, and Maggie Watson must unveil a killer before anyone else pays the ultimate price.

Maggie Watson, a recent transplant to the idyllic seaside town of Somerset Harbor, Maine, has been tasked with organizing a 25-Mile Antiques Sale and auction as part of the town's annual Arts and Music Festival. On opening night, excited tourists vie for their favorite antique pieces at the auction. But when the auction ends, one disgruntled attendee is found in a dark alley nearby, having lost something far more valuable than a bid . . . his life.

Determined to root out the identity of the killer, Maggie investigates, uncovering clues that the antique items the murder victim coveted might hold dark secrets. Can Maggie discover the truth and unmask a murderer before another unsuspecting victim is going, going, gone?

This clever whodunit from Annie’s Antique Shop Mysteries series is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, antiques, New England, and female friendships.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Christian Fiction

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2025

About the author

SUSAN SLEEMAN is the bestselling author of over sixty romantic suspense and mystery novels with more than two million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clean with inspiring messages of faith. Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts The Suspense Zone. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, two special sons-in-law, and four amazing grandsons

Reviews

[Faith Flaherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone knows not to judge a book by its cover. However, Loom and Doom, by Susan Sleeman, not only had an attractive cover, it has a ribbon bookmark. Evidently, this book is only one in a series of "Antique Shop Mysteries." The author, Susan Sleeman is only one of the many authors that write for "Antique Shop Mysteries."

The mysteries are touted as "cozy" mysteries. The locale, in Maine, the antique shop, which Maggie, the main protagonist, owns, and the quaint village, add to the lure qualifying the book as "cozy."

The village was having a large "flea" type sale, where all the merchants place their merchandise outside. There's a festival type atmosphere and the festivities begin with an auction. One of the items, which Maggie wants to buy for herself, is a carpet bag. When she was bidding, another bidder ran up the bid against her. Maggie finally won.

After the auction, Maggie's competitor for the carpet bag is murdered. He was killed with one of the auction's items--a sprocket. Very strange.

Maggie wondered why this victim was after the carpet bag. Upon closer inspection, she found a drawing of a house, hidden inside the lining of the bag. The house in the drawing is in the vicinity. There is a loom in the house missing a sprocket. There's a tunnel under the house and the key is the sprocket.

Maggie and her friends, piece everything together to solve the murder and its surrounding mystery. Therein lies the suspense.

[Jo Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been working my way through these antique shop mysteries. They are quick reads and very enjoyable. The main character is Maggie Watson, a 40-something widow with a daughter in college. After her husband dies, she learns her beloved aunt left her a mansion and an antique shop in a small coastal Maine town. Her new friends are of all ages and they help her solve mysteries. No new ground is being broken here, but like I said, the stories are good and so far, have been keeping me guessing right up to the end.

[Lis Sigona · Rating 5 out of 5]

12/12/25 - 12/19/25
Loom and Doom (Antiques Shop Mysteries #5)by Susan Sleeman
The 6th book in the series , Maggie, June, James and Daisy along with the historical society ladies are involved in reinstating the festival sin Somerset Harbor. The historical society convinced Maggie to included a 25 Mile Antique Shop run as a new feature with the festival. This attracts a lot of new visitors to Somerset Harbor.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a cozy mystery fan but sometimes I wish other folks would have trouble more than the central character. Maggie needs to not be the center of attention in every book. You can't change this series but a suggestion for new series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Watson likes looking into things that have to do with the past. She is interested in a carpetbag that was coming up for auction. But when the man was bidding against her turns up dead, she wonders if the carpetbag was worth more than expected.

[Michele Wilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced quick read mystery based on the coast of Maine. Great if you like antiques. Tied all the loose ends up well.

[Camisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant easy read with a number of twists that kept the plot moving forward.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy these characters. However, a little drawn out only to end with a rush to the mystery finish line.

[Liadain Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each of the books in this series are written by a different author and the storyline really ties together well while the character plots remain consistent which!

[Sanderella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book in this series!!🐨

[Ellie Gaidai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!!! Reminds me of 'Mandie' by Lois Gladys Leppard.

[Mooshka]

It was cute! As are the rest in the series. I enjoyed this mystery a bit more than others in the series though!